Greenville Reporter

Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued a statement following his vote in favor of H.R. 8812, the Water Resources Development Act of 2024.

"I am proud to have supported the Water Resources Development Act, bipartisan legislation critical to our coastal communities," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plays a vital role in Eastern North Carolina, ensuring our waterways remain open and accessible for business, recreation and defense purposes. I thank Chairman Sam Graves and my friend, Congressman David Rouzer for authorizing research into flood mitigation and resiliency and expediting several feasibility study projects important to the region."

Key benefits for Eastern North Carolina include:

- An amendment to the Army Civil Works Mission allowing UNCW to conduct academic research on flood mitigation, coastal resiliency, water resource ecology, water quality, aquatic ecosystem restoration (including aquaculture), coastal restoration, and resource-related emergency management in North Carolina and the Mid-Atlantic region.

- A project for flood risk management in the Tar Pamlico River Basin initially authorized in 2000.

- A project for flood risk management of the Cape Fear River and its tributaries.

- A project for coastal storm risk management in Surf City.

The legislation allocates $50 million in total for projects within North Carolina.

H.R. 8812 is a bipartisan bill that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works projects aimed at improving ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, among other aspects of water resources infrastructure. The act authorizes 160 new feasibility studies for locally proposed projects as well as 12 projects that have been thoroughly reviewed by the Corps with final approval from either the Chief of Engineers or the Director of Civil Works.